The joy of feeding people and lunch with the bucket fountain
Saturday, 6 June 2026
Ian Kerry has been a chef and restaurateur for more than 35 years. He and his wife Emily own Bond St Deli, “a kosher deli with an Antipodean twist” that blends tradition and creativity with his joy of feeding people well.
I live in …
Horokiwi with my wife, cats, dog, sheep and chickens tucked into a suburb that’s close enough to the city to feel connected but quiet enough to breathe. My family (four legged and furry, or bipedal) are both my biggest supporters and my most honest taste-testers.
The great thing about living here is …
The sense of community. People actually say hello. There’s a neighbourly rhythm to the place, familiar faces, good walks, and that classic Wellington mix of wild weather and warm people.
Saturday morning brunch/coffee spot?
I’m usually at a local spot that does great coffee and keeps things simple. I’m a filter-coffee person through and through - clean, unfussy and reliable. If I’m eating, it’s something savoury and straightforward. Steven Scheckter at On Trays in Kilbirnie makes an amazing Reuben, for which I have travelled to each of his last three locations to get. When you run a deli all week, sometimes you just want someone else to make you a simple yet delicious sandwich.
Read more:
My Wellington: Tim Jones on life beneath the trees, where the tūī yell and the stories start
My Wellington: Sleep in, sea view, good walk - recipe for a perfect rest day
The organiser behind key Wellington wins — and why he loves this city
Favourite Wellington building?
The old wooden buildings around the city, especially the ones that have been restored rather than replaced, for example the Victoria University Law Library. They feel like Wellington: quirky, resilient and full of stories.
Place to take a visitor from Oz?
Straight to the waterfront on a good day, then up to the Botanic Garden via the Cable Car. It’s the perfect introduction to Wellington, a mix of nature, view, and charm. And then, of course, to the Deli!
What makes a perfect bagel?
It has to be boiled, no negotiation. It should have a glossy crust, a proper chew, and enough structure to hold generous fillings without collapsing. A bagel should fight back just a little.
Your go-to filling?
My go-to is classic: cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers and a squeeze of lemon. Most surprisingly good - roasted eggplant, hummus and a little zhug. It’s bright, smoky, and has just enough heat to wake you up.
Toughest thing about working in hospo?
The hours and the pace; food doesn’t wait, and neither do customers. But the toughest part is also the best part ‒ you’re constantly on your toes, constantly solving problems, constantly creating. There’s also the increasing costs of doing business without putting my prices up.
Favourite dish/item to make?
I love making dips, especially baba ghanoush. There’s something satisfying about coaxing so much flavour out of simple ingredients. It’s smoky, silky, and always disappears first at events.
To catch a sunset?
Anywhere along the south coast. Wellington does dramatic skies better than almost anywhere; the kind of sunsets that make you stop mid-sentence.
You can never walk past …
A good produce market. I always end up leaving with herbs I didn’t plan to buy and ideas I didn’t plan to have. Also any dog tied up outside a shop. They all deserve a greeting.
A hidden talent?
I can look at a fridge full of “nothing” and somehow turn it into a meal. Years of chef life will do that to you.
The Wellingtonian you’d like to sit down to lunch with?
I have a long list, but really anyone who cares about Wellington and has stories to share over a bagel. A few: chef Monique Fiso — for her creativity, her depth of knowledge and her absolute commitment to craft; Jemaine Clement - deadpan humour, local legend and someone who would absolutely have opinions about bagels; Bret McKenzie - musician, comedian, Oscar winner and the most casually Wellington person ever; Hera Lindsay Bird - poet, chaotic genius and someone who would definitely have a strong opinion on the perfect bagel chew; the bucket fountain - not a person, but absolutely a Wellingtonian; the guy who plays saxophone on Courtenay Place at 1am - a true cultural institution; the woman who roller skates down Oriental Parade in full disco gear - if you know, you know; the man who feeds the ducks at the Botanic Garden every morning - wholesome Wellington treasure; the Cable Car operator who always adds commentary - a local celebrity in their own right.
Wellington needs more …
Warm, welcoming and accessible spaces where people can slow down, connect and eat well. Blunt umbrellas.
And fewer …
Windy days that flip your umbrella inside out before you’ve even reached the car.
– As told to Julie Jacobson